About NCMA
NCMA (the National Childminding Association)
is a charity and professional association. We believe every child
should reach their full potential and, since 1977, have worked with
registered childminders, nannies as well as other individuals and
organisations, such as local and national government, to ensure
families in every community in England and Wales have access to
high quality home-based childcare, play, learning and family
support.
In this section you can find out more about our work, our structure
and working for NCMA.
NCMA's vision
Is that every child reaches their full potential.
NCMA's mission
Is to ensure that families in every community have access to
high quality, home-based childcare, play, learning and family
support so they can help their children reach their full
potential.
NCMA's beliefs
NCMA believes that children of all ages benefit from home-based
childcare, play and learning because it is:
- consistent – a child is cared for by the same
registered childminder or nanny each day, often over a number of
years
- flexible – for example, a registered
childminder or nanny can care for a child whose parents work
atypical hours and will provide full, as well as wraparound,
childcare
- inclusive – a registered childminder or nanny
can care for children of different ages and abilities together in
family groups
- community-focussed – a registered childminder
or nanny can reflect the needs of local communities and enable the
children they care for to be part of their local community
- personalised – a registered childminder or
nanny can meet the needs of individual children and families, such
as teen parents or disabled children
- supportive – babies and younger children,
especially, do best in home-based childcare because they are cared
for in smaller groups and by the same registered childminder or
nanny each day.
NCMA's values
NCMA's values guide all its staff and volunteers in how they
make decisions about the work they do to support children,
families, registered childminders and nannies.
NCMA's values are:
- a commitment to children, their rights, wellbeing and
development
- inclusion and equality of opportunity
- membership involvement
- a commitment to high-quality services
- empowerment of all registered childminders and nannies to
develop as excellent practitioners.
NCMA's approach
We achieve our vision and mission by working in partnership
with:
- children and families, so they are aware of, and have access
to, high quality, home-based childcare, play, learning and family
support
- registered childminders and nannies to ensure they have the
information, support and training they need to provide high-quality
childcare, play, learning and family support to the children and
families in their care
- government, local authorities, regulators and other
organisations in England and Wales who influence the delivery of
children's services, to ensure they are inclusive of home-based
childcare.